Swords: Gold & Silver Lippe Detmold

These are posted together to illustrate what different colored swords on the same ribbon mean.

The red ribbon with gold metallic threads in yellow edges was used on a variety of awards shared between Lippe Detmold and Schaumburg Lippe, however the latter did not award decorations with swords during the World War. The only awards with swords devices 1914-18 were classes of Detmold's Ehrenkreuz (Honor Cross) given to officers.

Normally what one would expect-- that there are FEWER of a HIGHER class of any award-- is not true here. Like most German Orders, Lippe Detmold bestowed its Honor Cross (House Order) by the rank of the recipient, not their degree of merit. There are therefore MORE of the LDH3X (gold) swords classes than for the LDH4X classes (silver) given to "mere" Lieutenants.

Having transcribed the award rolls from both Lippes, which should be published by the end of 2008, I will reserve further comment on numbers until then.

If you can find any-- buy 'em!

Courtesy of Deruelle, these are both from WW1 wartime ribbon bars. The only one I have seen, in my own collection, is from the Second World War. They are that rare.